San Carlos Bishop Gerardo Alminaza, head of the social action arm of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP), on Sunday, Dec. 7, called for urgent national action to end corruption and finally enact a long-delayed Anti-Dynasty Law.
“An Anti-Dynasty Law should be passed without delay. Some clans have dominated politics for decades. Yet, even newer politicians in national leadership seem to quickly expand their reach through the election or appointment of their relatives,” Alminaza said in a press statement.
Alminaza, president of Caritas Philippines, urged the public “not to tolerate political dynasties,” adding that it is time for fresh qualified names and faces to run the government.
He warned that some people in the government will try to create an impression that they have thoroughly addressed the corruption issue.
The bishop urged the public to “stand together and continue our advocacy until measures for non-repetition and accountability are fully achieved.”
Alminaza said the push for such reforms reflects a broader moral call that many Filipinos, including the Catholic faithful, continue to express.
“We are facing a moral reckoning, and our people are seeking the truth. Corruption must finally end; nothing less will do. This is also the moment for our nation to pass a genuine anti-dynasty law,” he said.
Recent findings from the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ) underscore the scale of the problem, he added.
PCIJ’s 2025 analysis shows that at least 18 “obese” political dynasties — clans with five or more members in public office — were elected this year, he pointed out.
In regions across Luzon, the Visayas, and Mindanao, powerful families continue to dominate local and national positions, including the Marcos, Duterte, Singson, Ortega, Villar, Romualdez, Hataman-Salliman, Pacquiao, Dimaporo, and Tan clans.
PCIJ notes that political dynasties have not only persisted despite a constitutional prohibition, but have expanded over the decades from “thin” to “fat” and, in several cases, “obese”, Alminaza added.
“Many of the regions, where obese political dynasties rule, remain poor,” he said, adding that social services in these areas often do not reach the marginalized.”
In his first week as president of Caritas Philippines, Alminaza also highlighted how the Church’s response to recent floods revealed deeper structural problems.
“The Church must stay on the side of the victims of recent floods that devastated many. We accompanied communities through rescue and relief,” the bishop said.
“Now, we must address the underlying, root causes that have been uncovered: namely, ecological degradation and corruption in governance,” he said.
“Anti-corruption, integral ecology advocacy, and social action must remain in focus”, Alminaza added
He said the public protests held recently demonstrated widespread recognition that corruption and ecological neglect continue to harm poor communities the most.
“Vibrant and varied actions around the country, where multi sectoral groups participated, should inspire us all to keep learning together. We need to keep exercising synodality and solidarity with the poor, with one another, and with other concerned groups,” he said.*